HC Deb 08 February 1984 vol 53 c673W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider introducing a reduced rate of remuneration for general practitioners whose out-of-hours calls are carried out by a recognised deputising service.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Current levels of remuneration are as recommended by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration which decided in 1982 to recommend no relative changes to out-of-hours remuneration on account of the use of deputising services but to take account of such use in its overall assessment of general practitioners' work load.

Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the annual savings to the National Health Service of a reduction of one third in the fee paid to general practitioners when a member of a partnership personally answers and deals with out-of-hours calls.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We would not expect any savings. As fees and allowances payable to general practitioners are designed to produce a certain level of average net remuneration, reduced payments of one fee would normally be offset by increased payments of others.